[imagesource:flickr]

Influencers, politicians, ex-cons and a drove of blessers joined Julius Malema’s Christian Louboutin-Corteo shoes for a trot this weekend at the HollywoodBets Durban July.

The Annual horseracing event also featured horses, although the fashionable event has become better known for its flamboyant fashion and local celebrities than actual horseracing. To everyone outside of the horse community at least.

This year was no different and with the theme, ‘Ride the Wave’, the who’s who, and who’s that’s, galloped across the venue in all manner of “sparkles and wave-like textures attached to small, medium, big, asymmetrical, poufy and rouge looks”.

While it took a bit of digging to find out who won the actual race, most of the coverage of the event seemed focused on Julius Malema’s shoes as the EFF’s commander stepped out in his R28,000 designer Christian Louboutin-Corteo on Spikes Oxfords (with the iconic red bottom) as he freedom-fought his way through the VIP’s.

Julius looked dapper, capitalism shuddered, the poor rejoiced, and social media took note.

It’s ironic that Julius Malema would spend almost R300,000 on a lavish outfit for a colonial-inspired event like the Durban July, especially when he has often criticized colonialism and pushed for the empowerment of South African and black-owned brands pic.twitter.com/kENznyYCYn

— Nkoosi KaMabhoko (@NkosihMahlangu) July 7, 2024

Of course, shoes do not maketh the man, and to be fair, a politician’s love for the finer things does not necessarily reflect his fight. So as we giggle and gag at the hypocrisy of what some people do compared to what they say, we should perhaps be reminded that Julius Malema can spend his parliamentary salary on shoes if he chooses to do so. As Biko said, I say what I want, and I wear what I want. Or something to that effect.

According to clever blacks

Just because Julius Malema is fighting for poor black people

This are the shoes he must wear at Durban July to show his commitment pic.twitter.com/RWWmocIdAa

— ChrisExcel (@ChrisExcel102) July 7, 2024

Fair enough. Julius was, however, not the only attraction at the Durban July (besides the horseracing), and social media left some ire for fellow freedom fighter/sushi lover Kenny Kunene.

Kenny & Co traded horses for some quality time at Rockets Club in Umhlanga Rocks, where he and former international blesser, Sergio Cabonge, gave maximum effort.

According to a patron, the pair managed to gallop through R114,518 worth of Veuve Clicquot Y, Don Julio Tequila, an impressive number of mixers and wine, and one Red Bull.

All the blessers flocked to Durban for the Durban July weekend, so did Sergio Cabonge and Kenny Kunene who spent over R125 000 at Rockets Club; Umhlanga Rocks. pic.twitter.com/VhsO7uuzcs

— Musa Khawula (@Musa_Khawula) July 8, 2024

The receipt, which entertainment blogger Musa Khawula shared on X, showed that the patron settled his bill at 4 AM on Monday morning, so someone was late for work mos def.

As mentioned, the Durban July also featured some horseracing on the day, so now that we’ve dealt with the bourgeoisie, we can confirm that Brett Crawford recorded back-to-back wins in the race, riding the three-year-old Oriental Charm to victory in the 128th running of Africa’s greatest horse race.

The winning horse is owned by Greg Bortz, Leon Ellman and Gina Goldsmith, who also bagged the R5 million prize, which they can now spend on some really smart shoes.

[source:jacarandafm&ewn]